Bonfires

De: Amy Lane

Narrado por: Nick J. Russo

Ten years ago Sheriff's Deputy Aaron George lost his wife and moved to Colton, hoping growing up in a small town would be better for his children. He's gotten to know his community, including Mr. Larkin, the bouncy, funny science teacher. But when Larx is dragged unwillingly into administration, he stops coaching the track team and starts running alone. Aaron - who thought life began and ended with his kids - is distracted by a glistening chest and a principal running on a dangerous road.

Larx has been living for his kids too - and for his students at Colton High. He's not ready to be charmed by Aaron, but when they start running together, he comes to appreciate the deputy's steadiness, humor, and complete understanding of Larx's priorities. Children first, job second, his own interests a sad last.

It only takes one kiss for two men approaching 50 to start acting like teenagers in love, even amid all the responsibilities they shoulder. Then an act of violence puts their burgeoning relationship on hold. The adult responsibilities they've embraced are now instrumental in keeping their town from exploding. When things come to a head, they realize their newly forged family might be what keeps the world from spinning out of control.

©2017 Amy Lane (P)2017 Dreamspinner Press

Bonfires

4.5 Stars

I was not expecting this book to be so suspenseful. Really, from the cover I thought it would be more of a sappy romance, with some random family issues and drama thrown in, and WOW!! was I surprised when it wasn’t. Don't let the cover fool you, either, lol. This book was great. A good surprise that pulls you in right from the beginning and keeps you on the edge of your seat every step of the way in needing to know what happens next, and who it will happen to.

I loved that this book featured two later-in-life 40y/o men finding their second chance together. It was super sweet, and really fun to see them acting like teens in a new relationship at times. I know they were older and that sometimes it really didn't feel that way when they talked and interacted with others, but to me that made it all seem more real. They both had kids up to being teenagers/young adults so it was refreshing to see they weren't stuffy and older sounding (40s isn't really that old). I really appreciated the fact that both men made sure that their responsibilities in life (kids and families) were taken into consideration first over their feelings and any relationships they both might have had. It really showed their characters in a positive view.

I think that their jobs - Aaron as the sheriff and Larks as the school principal - really helped them form a deeper bond as well, especially when things started getting a little crazy in their town. They could lean on each other and stand together when it was really needed. These guys were seriously awesome characters.

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. One of the main points of this story was the small-town thinking and the overwhelming hate that can come from it. I really believe these guys and their kids and all their friends dealt with the events that happened in an affirmative way. I was a little confused by some of the actions that happened during the conclusion to the mystery aspect and the people who were caught. There were just a few facts that weren’t explained well enough for my liking, but overall this book was a great way to spend some time.

My one hope after finishing this book is that Kellen gets a book too, so he can have his own HEA. He totally deserves it after everything he was put through, the poor boy - I felt so bad for him.

Audio – Nick J. Russo did a great job with the character voices for both men and their families and all the secondary characters we came into contact with. I really liked that I listened to this one in audio compared to just reading it, because I think the suspense and mystery aspect had a bigger impact with being able to listen to the story play out. Great job and I’m onto the next (audio)book in this series.

Sometimes a book actually lives up to the hype

I've seen this book recommended several times in various Facebook but groups that I'm apart of, and I finally bit the bullet and got the audio version. It is excellent. Sweet, without being too saccharine, and heart wrenching without being too sad. Two single dads finally stop dancing around each other and give themselves the opportunity to fall in love. The characters are loveable and relatable, and I'll definitely read it again.

Older guys, but don't let that put you off.

This couple have had lives... marriages, children, careers, heart-aches... it's complicated. But they are as sweet and as sexy as they can be! And the story is chock full of events and drama, despite the small town setting. A supporting cast of caracters and their sub-plots are wonderfully interwoven with the growing relationship. Amy Lane is a masterful writer who can make every little detail fascinating. Narrator does a good job bringing it all to life.

Fantastic

I regret holding on to this for so long before listening to it. Larx and Aaron were fantastic and the story was great

Beautiful beautiful book

So much emotion!
It was a great and touching read
But the narration added so much more!
Starting now the second book, hopefully three will be a third one soon